Assig-noe of fifty-one one



(No Model IVLRBEBGAN'.

, AND BATH TUB-S.

- Patented Nov. 18, 1884'.

STOPPBR IN WASH BOWLS, SINKS I M I I v. I I a I Fi -ICE.

ATENT MATHEIV F. DEEGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY-ON E ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO B. F. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

STOPPER IN WASH-BOWLS, SINKS, A ND BATH-TUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,307, dated November 18, 188%.

7 Application filed April 15, 1884. (N0 model.) 7

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATHEW F. DEEGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoppers for WVash-Bowls, Bath-Tubs, Sinks, and Similar Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stoppers or closingvalves for the escape or overflow openings of basins, bath-tubs, sinks, &c.;and its object is primarily to provide a tight closing means for these openings,to prevent the escape of sewer and other noxious gases, odors, and smells into houses and other structures in which these appliances are used. I provide a float attached to an arm, by means of which the stopper may be automatically opened and closed, and the float, rising and sinking with the rise and fall of the water in the receptacle, causes an automatic action of the stopper. As embodied in the perfected form of .my invention,

the floatarm merely serves to unlock or free the valve or stopper, and said valve or stopper is, by a spring or other suitable action, thrown open.

The details of construction and the scope and purpose of my invention will be more fully understood, as hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into practice.

Figure l is a vertical section of a wash bowl or basin and connected pipes with my stopper and float applied. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the interior of the bowl, showing my invention in place. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the stopper. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged view of the locking or holding means and the cam operated by the floatlever for unlocking the stopper in side elevation, showing a cover placed upon the parts. Fig. 4: is a plan of the stopper, showing a cap or cover placed over .its top for protection or ornamentation. Fig. 5 is a figure corresponding in character to Fig. I, but showing a modified and simplified form of float and stopper connection.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views where they occur.

I would premise before entering upon the detailed explanation of the device that, although I have only shown a basin or bowl, I would not be understood as confining myself to that device in the application of my invention, for, as already intimated, it is equally well applicable to bath-tubs, sinks, and to any analogous device having an opening for the escape of water; and I would further state that the invention is appurtenant to either the waste or escape pipe or to the overflow-pipe. I have shown it in connection with the waste or escape pipe only, so that it will be understood throughout the specification and claims that when basin or bowl is named any similar appliance is intended to be included, and when the opening covered by the stopper is mentioned either an escape or an overflow passage may be intended.

A is the basin or other water-receptacle. a is the waste or other pipe leading therefrom.

A is a short neck of pipe, detached from the main portion a and forming the seat for the stopper, as will presently be explained. This neck A has a turned-out upper edge or circular flange, a, which rests in a depression in the bottom of the basin or receptacle A, and serves as a means for attachment for the stopper-hinge and float-pivot. The tubular portion of the neck A is screw-threaded, as shown, and has anut or threaded washer, A screwed on it up against the under side of the basin or receptacle A, with or without an interposed washer or packing. The connection between the neck A and pipe (4 is made in any convenient manner. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a second piece of pipe, A threaded on the exterior, is joined to neck'A by a coupling, a*, and this section A* is joined at its lower end to the pipe a by screwing into it, and has a hood, A *,overlapping the end of pipe a, screwed upon saidsection A but this means of coupling and connecting may be substituted by any other suitable device.

B is the stopper, hinged at b to the flange a or other portion of the pipe A, or, if no such pipe be used, then directly to the basin. Its under face is finished with a rubber or other soft bulb or cushion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which fits snugly into the mouth of the pipe A, and makes, a water and gas tight joint when the stopper is closed. A spring, 0, is applied to the stopper B in such a manner as to tend to throw it open when no means are employed to keep it shut. The spring is secured at one end to the flange a, or to any other stationary part, and works under a staple or raised portion, b, on the stopper or valve B, so that as soon as the stopper is released it will be automatically opened by said spring G. The stopper is held closed by means of the keeper D and catchbolt D. The keeper D is secured upon the flange a or other stationary part, and.the catch-bolt D is held on a spring, (I, curved upon the stopper B, and held under the guard d. The catch bolt is thus automatically thrown into the keeper or projection D, and held there so long as the force of the spring d is not overcome and extraneous means applied to withdraw the catch-bolt from the keeper. The catchbolt is normally protruded beyond the edge of the stopper, so that when the stopper is closed the said ,bolt will ride over the inclined face of the keeper, and when the stopper is fully closed it springs into the keeper and holds it shut. The catch-bolt isprovided with an upwardly-extending projection, D*, which may serve the purpose of a thumb-piece to be taken hold of by hand to withdraw the bolt from the keeper, but which, in the construction and combination shown, is acted upon automatically or intentionally by the elevation of the float to withdraw the bolt and release the stopper.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of the float and means for operating the stopper, as above mentioned. The float E is mounted upon an arm, F, curved to fit the bottom of the device'in which it is placed. This arm is pivoted at f to the flange a or other fixed part. It carries acam, F, which lies out of the way when. the float-arm is down or resting against the inside of the basin or other part, but which is thrown against the projection D when the float-arm is raised, as shown in Fig. 4. This impingement upon the part D will cause the bolt D to be withdrawn from the keeper D, when the spring 0 will throw the stopper open. The raising of the float-arm F may be caused by taking hold of it. or by a sufficient rise in the water in the basin, tub, or sink to cause the float to rise. Thus it is seen that my devices serve also the purpose of a safety-valve, and when applied to the escape or waste pipe of a basin, tub, or sink does away with the necessity of an overflow-pipe, and thus removes from the dwelling one of the most fertile sources of trouble, as these overflow-pipes are, on ac count of their occasional use only, very liable to become foul and have matter lodge and become putrid in them.

As heretofore stated, the float-arm lies snug against the side of the basin or other receptacle, and the float E may be provided with a depression, E, as shown on Fig. 1, into which it projects, so as not to obstruct the interior of the basin. A shield, G, is set upon the float E to cover the opening or depression E, and thus preserve the appearance of the bowl or basin. A loop or button, g, is provided upon the shield or at some point on the floatarm to be taken hold of by hand to raise the float, as desired. The float-arm may be a solid bar or several wires twisted together, the object being to have rigidity enough in it to supportthe float and insure its being guided back into its seat, and at the same time to insure the proper action of the cam F. A depression, E", may, if desired, be formed in the bowl or other receptacle for the arm F, as well as for the float; but such will not ordinarily be necessary, as the arm will not be found to be in the way in using the part A for anyordinary purpose. In tubs, basins, or sinks already in use the depression E will of course be virtually impracticable, and in such case the float E will have to rest upon the plane inner surface of the receptacle. In this arrangement the float will be a nicely curved or rounded body, as shown in Fig. 5, with one side made to fit snugly against the interior of the'basin or receptacle, so as to occupy no more space than necessary, and also to present no sharp corners on the interior of the basin; and, instead of having the arm F pivoted to the flange a, it may be rigidly secured directly to the stopper, as shown in Fig. 5, "and the spring 0, keeper D, catch-bolt D, spring (I, and projection D may be dispensed with. This construction places the stopper directly and entirely under control for both closing and opening the float and float-arm, and will insure the automatic closing of the stopper as soon as the water recedes enough to let the float rest against the side of the bowl or other part. The float may be formed of a piece of cork or other buoyant material, or may be an air-chamber formed of thin metal or other impervious material.

To cover the working parts of the stopper, as well as to conserve the symmetry and appearance of the receptacle, a cap or cover, H, .of some metal may be placed over top of said stopper, as shown in Fig. 4", with openings for the working and passage of the parts which extend beyond it. In such constructiomif the cap be properly shaped, the staple Z2 and guard (1 may be dispensed with and the cap or cover H made to fill their place.

I hereby disclaim the following subject-matter, viz: a basin or other receptacle having a depression for the reception of a float, a floatarm curved to conform-to the interior wall of the basin or receptacle, and a stopper operated by said float.

Having thus described my invention, what -I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent IIO 1. The combination of the hinged stopper, I and provided with a cam for operating upon the keeper, and the catch-bolt, substantially the catch-bolt, substantially as set forth. as described. 4. The combination of the stopper B, float- 2. The combination, with the hinged stoparm F, controlling it, float E, guard G, and I 5 5 per, the keeper, and catch-bolt, of the float loop 9, substantially as set forth.

and fioat-arn1 operating to disengage the catch- In testimony whereof I hereunto set my bolt from the keeper, as set forth. hand and seal in the presence of two Witnesses. 3. The combination, with the hinged stop- MATHEW F. DEEGrAN. [L S.]

per, spring to open it, keeper, and catch-bolt Witnesses:

' 10 having the projection, as described, of the O. V. NEWELL,

float and the float-arm, pivoted as described, F. H. GoIN. 

